Thinking of switching
from SimplePay?
SimplePay is a solid product. This page isn't here to attack it — it's here to help you make an informed decision.
If you're outgrowing your current tool, or just exploring what else is out there, here's a fair look at how TSS Payroll compares.
Feature comparison
Both platforms handle the South African payroll basics well. Here's where things diverge.
| Feature | SimplePay | TSS Payroll |
|---|---|---|
| PAYE / UIF / SDL calculationCore SA compliance | ||
| IRP5 / IT3(a) generation | ||
| EMP201 submission export | ||
| Employee self-service portal | ||
| Leave management | ||
| Payslip delivery via email | ||
| Payslip delivery via WhatsApp | ||
| Bulk employee import | ||
| Invite accountant / bookkeeperGranular role permissions | ||
| Partner / referral program15% recurring commission | ||
| Payroll Explain (AI breakdown) | ||
| Payroll anomaly detection | ||
| Salary advance management | ||
| Mobile-friendly employee portal | ||
| Audit trail & change logs | ||
| Tax directive support | ||
| EMP501 reconciliation | ||
| Multi-company from one login | ||
| Free migration assistance | ||
| 30-day free trial |
Based on publicly available information. SimplePay details accurate as of mid-2025 — always verify on their website.
What do you actually pay?
Both platforms charge per employee. TSS Payroll includes features in each tier that SimplePay charges add-ons for.
SimplePay
- Tiered pricing based on employee count
- Additional charge for each payroll run beyond the base
- Some advanced features available as paid extras
- 30-day free trial
TSS Payroll
- Per-employee monthly pricing — no hidden run fees
- WhatsApp payslip delivery included in all plans
- Accountant access, AI tools, and partner portal included
- 30-day free trial — no credit card required
Want exact numbers for your headcount?
See TSS Payroll pricing →Meet your employees where they already are
In South Africa, WhatsApp is where communication happens — not email. TSS Payroll delivers payslips directly to each employee's WhatsApp, so they actually read them.
-
Automatic delivery on payroll run
Payslips land in WhatsApp the moment payroll is approved.
-
No app download required
Employees don't need to install anything or create a login to receive their payslip.
-
Secure PDF attachment
Each payslip is sent as a secure, password-protected PDF.
-
SimplePay: email only
SimplePay sends payslips via email — fine, but not the default communication channel for most South African workers.
TSS Payroll
Payslip delivered
Payroll intelligence built in
SimplePay automates the maths. TSS Payroll goes further — it explains the maths, flags anomalies, and helps you answer employee questions on the spot.
Payroll Explain
Employees can tap "Explain my payslip" and get a plain-English breakdown of every deduction — PAYE, UIF, SDL, and more.
Anomaly Detection
The system flags unusual changes in payroll totals before you approve — so a data-entry mistake doesn't become a problem after the fact.
Smart Compliance Guidance
Built-in guidance surfaces the right SARS rules at the right time — tax directives, IRP5 reconciliation, and EMP201 submissions.
Payroll Audit Trail
Every change is logged with a timestamp and reason. Useful when SARS asks questions, or when an employee disputes a figure.
Payroll Insights Dashboard
Month-on-month cost trends, headcount changes, and leave liability at a glance — without exporting to Excel.
More coming
AI features are actively being expanded — including salary benchmarking and automated leave accrual calculations.
Nomsa Dube
Accountant · Precision Accounting CC
4
Companies
View
Payslips
Read
Reports
Access level
Give your accountant access — with guardrails
Invite your accountant or bookkeeper to your TSS Payroll account and assign exactly what they can see and do. No shared passwords. No awkward screenshots.
- Granular role-based permissions
- Read-only or limited-write access options
- Access to payroll reports, payslips, and SARS exports
- One accountant, multiple client companies
- Full audit trail of every action they take
Are you an accountant or HR consultant?
SimplePay doesn't offer a referral program. TSS Payroll does — and it pays recurring commissions on every client you bring in, for as long as they stay.
15%
Recurring monthly commission
∞
No cap on clients or earnings
R0
Free to join, no monthly fees
Dedicated partner portal
Manage all your client companies from one dashboard. Track commissions, run payroll on their behalf, and get support as a partner.
Monthly payout tracking
See exactly what you've earned, which clients are active, and when your next payout is due — all inside your partner dashboard.
Switching is less painful than you think
The most common reason people stay on a platform they've outgrown is the fear of the switch. Here's what migrating to TSS Payroll actually looks like.
Export from SimplePay
Download your employee list, salary history, and leave balances from SimplePay as CSV files. Their export is clean and easy to use.
Import into TSS Payroll
Use our bulk employee import tool to bring in your team in minutes. Our template maps directly to SimplePay's export format.
Run your first payroll
Most businesses run their first TSS payroll within the same day they sign up. Your 30-day trial gives you time to validate everything before committing.
What carries over
- All employee records and personal details
- Salary structures and earning components
- Leave balances (annual and sick leave)
- Bank account details for payment runs
Where we help
- Dedicated onboarding guide for SimplePay users
- Live chat support during your first payroll run
- Free onboarding call for teams of 20+
- 30-day overlap period — run both if you need to
Common questions
Things people ask before making the switch.
Ready to try it for yourself?
Start your free 30-day trial — no credit card required. Run a test payroll in minutes and see how it compares.
No obligation. Cancel anytime. Data export always available.